Final Report Summary - LAC (Liquid-aperture Coulter counter for sizing oceanic particles and phytoplankton)
Summary description of the project objectives
The main objective of this project is to ensure the participation of the PI to a US National Atmospheric and Space Administration (NASA) project that he helped developing before returning to Europe. The aim of the project is two-fold: 1) to devise an analytical method to directly measure phytoplankton carbon, and 2) to develop a micro-fabricated instrument that can detect chlorophyll fluorescence and count and size oceanic particles over a wide size range. This Marie Curie grant focuses on the second objective and on allowing the participation of the PI to the US project.
Description of the work performed since the beginning of the project and main results achieved so far The first and last two years of the project have been dedicated to the construction of the microfluidic device. Dr. Dall'Olmo has actively participated to the project by means of bi-monthly conference calls, two visits to the colleagues in the USA, as well
as taking part on a research cruise. Instrument prototypes measuring chlorophyll fluorescence, particle size and concentration have been built and tested both in the laboratory and at sea. Current work at University of Louisville is focusing on increasing the sensitivity of the instrument to meet the project specifications.
Expected final results and their potential impact and use
When completed, this novel instrument will be able to determine the size distribution of phytoplankton cells and other marine particles. Size is a fundamental cell and particle characteristic and influences a variety of physical, chemical, and biological processes. The size of phytoplankton cells, in addition, is directly related to their carbon biomass, a fundamental variable in the ocean carbon cycle, that is not routinely measured. It is therefore expected that this novel instrument, once completed, will allow us to better understand the ocean carbon cycle and its influences on the Earth's climate.
The main objective of this project is to ensure the participation of the PI to a US National Atmospheric and Space Administration (NASA) project that he helped developing before returning to Europe. The aim of the project is two-fold: 1) to devise an analytical method to directly measure phytoplankton carbon, and 2) to develop a micro-fabricated instrument that can detect chlorophyll fluorescence and count and size oceanic particles over a wide size range. This Marie Curie grant focuses on the second objective and on allowing the participation of the PI to the US project.
Description of the work performed since the beginning of the project and main results achieved so far The first and last two years of the project have been dedicated to the construction of the microfluidic device. Dr. Dall'Olmo has actively participated to the project by means of bi-monthly conference calls, two visits to the colleagues in the USA, as well
as taking part on a research cruise. Instrument prototypes measuring chlorophyll fluorescence, particle size and concentration have been built and tested both in the laboratory and at sea. Current work at University of Louisville is focusing on increasing the sensitivity of the instrument to meet the project specifications.
Expected final results and their potential impact and use
When completed, this novel instrument will be able to determine the size distribution of phytoplankton cells and other marine particles. Size is a fundamental cell and particle characteristic and influences a variety of physical, chemical, and biological processes. The size of phytoplankton cells, in addition, is directly related to their carbon biomass, a fundamental variable in the ocean carbon cycle, that is not routinely measured. It is therefore expected that this novel instrument, once completed, will allow us to better understand the ocean carbon cycle and its influences on the Earth's climate.